1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>2. Proceed then&nbsp;to "Records" section (see below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.<br>3. Contact or visit The London Metropolitan Archives and Library,&nbsp;or,&nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the index[es]. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>4. You can also visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's {{FHL|720702|title-id|disp=cataloged entries}} providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp center]&nbsp;near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you&nbsp; more quickly search the&nbsp;wills and admons which can also&nbsp;be circulated on microfilm via any&nbsp;family history .<br>

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#Search the index at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1704 Ancestry]. If the desired digitized will is not found, proceed to Step 2.<br>

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#[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog First search each index ](see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>

#Contact or visit The London Metropolitan Archives and Library,&nbsp;or,&nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the index[es]. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>

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#You can also visit The [[Family History Library|Family History Library, or]], one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's {{FHL|330765|title-id|disp=cataloged entries}} providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the [[Introduction to LDS Family History Centers|center]]&nbsp;near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you&nbsp; more quickly search the&nbsp;wills and admons which can also&nbsp;be circulated on microfilm via any&nbsp;family history .<br>

Contents

Step By Step

Search the index at Ancestry. If the desired digitized will is not found, proceed to Step 2.

First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.

Proceed then to "Records" section (see below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.

Contact or visit The London Metropolitan Archives and Library, or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the index[es]. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.

You can also visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's cataloged entries providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history .

Indexes

The Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London probate records have to some extent been indexed in:

Printed and Published Indexes

Index to testamentary records in the Commissary Court of London (London Division) 1374-1700 by Marc Fitch, available at Society of Genealogists, The Guildhall Library, London Metropolitan Archives and Library, The Family History Library

A comprehensive will and admon index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts for the years covering 1750-1858 for surnames A-E, is Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and is available; surnames A-F are located on the FindMyPast web site. He will provide a search service in his indexes for surnames covering from G-Z at a set fee.

Original handwritten indexes:

Court probate inventories, 1662-1747 with surnames alpha-arranged

Probate and administration act book, 1496-1857

Calender of Probate & Administrations acts 1660-1810

Microfilmed indexes available at the Family History Library:

The following indexes and abstracts to the wills for this court are available in the Family History Library:

Jurisdiction

The Commissary Court of London (London Division) had jurisdiction over 94 parishes in Greater London (Middlesex)--including 50 parishes within the City of London proper and 44 out in the county of Middlesex. When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search the Consistory Court of the Bishop of London as well.